Sponsored App Review: Sparky Lock Screen

If there’s one thing that truly sets Android aside from everyone else, like the iPhone, Windows Phone and BlackBerry, it’s customization. No platform offers the same amount of customization as Android does and it’s this that many of us love about the platform. It’s not just that Android itself gives us more options to make our devices feel our own but, the vast amount of apps that are available out there. With so many out there, what sets Sparky Lock Screen aside from the rest? Can it really help make your lock screen feel unique? Read on as we try to answer that question.

Description: Sparky Lock Screen is an app that’s still in beta that’s essentially what you think it is, it’s an app that changes the appearance of your lock screen. Essentially, Sparky Lock Screen is a collection of stunning lock screen themes and designs that bring something unique to your smartphone. The app is quick and well-designed to make it quick and easy to change your lock screen themes. Actions lock unlocking to messages and the phone are on each lock screen. There are exciting features like the ability to use gestures to unlock your device and more.

How it Works: To start changing your lock screen, you’ll have to head on over to the Play Store and download the app. After that just open it up to start changing your lock screen.

When you choose a theme you like the look of, you’ll be given a preview of it.

Each lock screen has a slightly different behavior, and the app tells you how to use each one:

This is especially helpful if you change after using one for such a long time. For instance, the ticket stub look unlocks differently, and in tune with the theme.

You can change some of the settings at any time by hitting the gear in the top-right corner of the main screen.

One of the more advanced features is the “telepathic unlock”. Essentially, this is a gesture-based unlock that uses the proximity sensor of the device to unlock itself.

Experiment with the app and find your favorite theme, mine is the minimal black theme:

It might still be in beta but, Sparky Lock Screen has already amassed a large following and some large download figures.

Opinion: Being able to customize our device is one of the biggest draws that Android has and with the help of apps like this we can change different parts of the system. The lock screen is the first thing that you see when you hit the power button on your device and it’s nice to be able to see something that you love, inside of the generic display that everyone sees. For me, the wood and ticket stub looks are my favorites and I like the fact that you don’t lose information with these lock screens. You can still see how many messages or missed calls you’ve had.

Ratings

Speed (4/5) – The lock screens on offer here are fine and won’t slow you down doing day-to-day task. With the “telepathic unlock” you can get into your phone quicker than before.

Features (4/5) – With such an array of lock screen themes on offer, there’s bound to be something for everyone here.

Theme (5/5) – The quality of the themes are great and they each work well with HD displays, too.

Overall (4/5) – If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to customize your lock screen and still get great-looking results, Sparky Lock Screen is the app for you.

Pros

Vast array of themes on offer.

High-quality art that works great on HD displays.

There’s something for everyone in Sparky Lock Screen.

It’s really easy to set-up and doesn’t need root.

Cons

More themes would be great.

Ability to add Twitter, Facebook and Gmail to lock screens would be a nice addition.

Conclusion: There are a lot of apps out there on Android that allow you to easily customize the look and feel of your device. In fact, it’s the whole premise of the Moto X’s hardware. We can’t all just go and buy a new phone though, so it’s nice to be able to breath a little new life into your smartphone every now and then. With Sparky Lock Screen you can change what the first thing you see looks like and there are a whole host of themes to choose from as well. You can change your lock screen depending on your mood and thanks to the “telepathic unlock” feature, you can simply wave your hand over the display to get access to your phone. It all adds up to a great package that’s easy to use, it’s not too expensive and works well.